Years ago, this whirlymagig used to hang outside our dining room window. Some people call them wind spinners, or whirligigs, but I’ve always known them as whirlymagigs. One of our sons built it at camp.
It is a spiral of popsicle sticks, mounted with a swivel on a string. Whenever the wind blows, it spirals around with the wind; then the tension in the string spirals it back in the opposite direction when the wind stops.
It can be quite relaxing to sit and watch them spiral as the wind chimes toll their delightful melody.
If the wind gets to be too strong, though, the whirlymagig blows all over the place, and the wind chimes just clang with noise.
Many people in the church are like this spinner. They don’t know what they believe or why they believe it. Never having read or studied God’s word for themselves, they blow to and fro with the teachers of their favorite pastor and clang about in a storm.
The Bible warned that this would happen.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 NIV
We need to be diligent in testing out the teaching we hear with what the Bible actually says. Ask God to reveal His truth when you read.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8 NIV
By all means, listen to sermons, read solid teaching books, read devotionals like Gleanings, but ALWAYS compare them to the Word. If you’re not spending time in your Bible, give up Gleanings or one of the other things you read (or listen to) and invest that time in reading the Bible. Gleanings is only designed to supplement your time in the Bible, not replace it.
Invest your time in reading and listening to the Bible. Learn what you believe and why you believe it, then when the winds of life blow (and they will), you will be anchored to a foundation that will stand.
Our hope, our faith and our salvation is in Christ alone. Much of our understanding and our ability to apply the truths of that relationship comes from reading the Word. Studying the Scriptures teaches us more about Christ, about His power and His promises for our lives and those things help us to withstand the turbulence of life.
Read the Word. Read THE WORD. READ THE WORD. Just in case you’re not certain as to what I’m saying, I’ll repeat it: READ THE WORD
Invest in a good Bible, perhaps a couple of different translations, get a good concordance, and a Bible dictionary to help if you can. If you have no budget, there are a plethora of free resources available on the net.
There are all kinds of delightful commentaries out there to help you understand, but the most important thing is time in the Bible itself. READ THE WORD!
Don’t be like my whirlymagig, blown around by the slightest change. Study God’s truth for yourself. If the church you belong to tells you not to study the Word or won’t allow you to ask questions about it, find another church.
Until next time, read the Word.
Be blessed
SUMMARY
My whirlymagig only flies out of control when the wind gets too strong, and too many Christians do the same thing spiritually. Stop being blown around by every teacher and get anchored in the Word instead.
TAKEAWAY
If you’ve never studied God’s Word for yourself, you’ll blow around with whatever your favorite pastor says.
Test every teaching you hear against Scripture.
Don’t let a devotional like Gleanings replace your time in the Bible. Let it point you back to it.